While my elementary school classmate is knocking home runs in New
York, I am preaching the gospel in Round Rock. Texas was looking more
like springtime Texas than it did August Texas recently. It rained
every day this week, and we didn't get very much sunshine. Not that
I'm complaining. Getting a break from the August heat is very much a
blessing. It's the humidity that bites. I can deal with 105 degrees,
that what I grew up with in Stockton, but that humidity get to any
soul.
This week we had a great district activity. All of the missionaries
nearby collected together and we did genealogy together. Learning
about your family history is extremely important, especially if your
religion believes in eternal families. I love that we as a church
believe in performing proxy ordinances for those that have passed. It
shows the importance of the acts. The greatest act of time, the
Atonement, was a proxy action itself. Christ conquered sin and death,
that we through him can conquer sin and death. The only way out of
this life is through a proxy ordinance, it makes sense that those out
of this life still need a proxy ordinance. There is so much to learn
from Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement.
It was a great sight to see missionaries searching through their
family records and discovering their past, seeing what they can do to
reserve names to take to the temple. I got to help many of them with
how to attach sources, organize records, reserve temple ordinances,
and read memories of their ancestors. Some of the greatest joys on
earth can be found in our families. I know that there are family
members that I have never met that I will be great friends with in the
afterlife. There is so much good in getting to know your family, and
serving them in any way possible.
On Friday I was able to trade companions for a day. I went on a
companionship exchange with the Round Rock elders. Elder Yale went
with Elder Boren, and I went with Elder A. What an outstanding
missionary. He understands that the simple things get big things done.
We don't have to over complicate, as entertaining as it is. Many times
getting back to basics is the solution to many problems in sports,
work, relationships, the gospel, and it works great in missionary
work. We had an excellent day finding, teaching, and learning from one
another.
One of my favorite parts of being a missionary are the other
missionaries. While scores and scores of people learn from us and the
Savior's teachings, we as teachers learn from each other. We grow with
each other. We become friends with each other. This is the Lord's work
and glory, and we are thrusting in our sickles with might side by
side. It's a great feeling.
Recently my mind has been pondering about a few scriptures. I'd like
to share some of them and my thoughts about them.
"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments--then had thy peace
been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea (1
Nephi 18:20, Isaiah 48:20)."
"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as
in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22)."
It interests me that my mind is drawn to these passages. They are both
about obedience and they are both in the Old Testament. Both of them
lament not the committing of sin, but the denial of obedience. To
Isaiah and Samuel, we see that the glory of the lord is not in the
trial or hardship that we put into obedience, but the need for his
laws to be kept.
I also enjoy the imagery in the first quote. Peace is like a reach. It
flows, it is not still. It rushes and goes forth. Many times we see
peacefulness as idleness, when Isaiah describes peace as momentous.
The imagery in Samuel's reproof to Saul is strong as well. In this
case, Samuel is using a physical substance in contrast to a mental
response. "To hearken that the fat of rams." Self-mastery and humility
are tools we have to fulfill the word of the lord. We perform his
deeds in the order and desire he has given us, not what we think is
best.
My mind is everywhere today. We had a wild week filled with ups and
downs, but no matter what, I love being a missionary. I thank my God
for this chance I have to work with him. Every experience is worth it.
Elder Hall
1. Elder A and I on exchanges
2. Things that happen when it rains in Texas
York, I am preaching the gospel in Round Rock. Texas was looking more
like springtime Texas than it did August Texas recently. It rained
every day this week, and we didn't get very much sunshine. Not that
I'm complaining. Getting a break from the August heat is very much a
blessing. It's the humidity that bites. I can deal with 105 degrees,
that what I grew up with in Stockton, but that humidity get to any
soul.
This week we had a great district activity. All of the missionaries
nearby collected together and we did genealogy together. Learning
about your family history is extremely important, especially if your
religion believes in eternal families. I love that we as a church
believe in performing proxy ordinances for those that have passed. It
shows the importance of the acts. The greatest act of time, the
Atonement, was a proxy action itself. Christ conquered sin and death,
that we through him can conquer sin and death. The only way out of
this life is through a proxy ordinance, it makes sense that those out
of this life still need a proxy ordinance. There is so much to learn
from Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement.
It was a great sight to see missionaries searching through their
family records and discovering their past, seeing what they can do to
reserve names to take to the temple. I got to help many of them with
how to attach sources, organize records, reserve temple ordinances,
and read memories of their ancestors. Some of the greatest joys on
earth can be found in our families. I know that there are family
members that I have never met that I will be great friends with in the
afterlife. There is so much good in getting to know your family, and
serving them in any way possible.
On Friday I was able to trade companions for a day. I went on a
companionship exchange with the Round Rock elders. Elder Yale went
with Elder Boren, and I went with Elder A. What an outstanding
missionary. He understands that the simple things get big things done.
We don't have to over complicate, as entertaining as it is. Many times
getting back to basics is the solution to many problems in sports,
work, relationships, the gospel, and it works great in missionary
work. We had an excellent day finding, teaching, and learning from one
another.
One of my favorite parts of being a missionary are the other
missionaries. While scores and scores of people learn from us and the
Savior's teachings, we as teachers learn from each other. We grow with
each other. We become friends with each other. This is the Lord's work
and glory, and we are thrusting in our sickles with might side by
side. It's a great feeling.
Recently my mind has been pondering about a few scriptures. I'd like
to share some of them and my thoughts about them.
"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments--then had thy peace
been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea (1
Nephi 18:20, Isaiah 48:20)."
"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as
in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22)."
It interests me that my mind is drawn to these passages. They are both
about obedience and they are both in the Old Testament. Both of them
lament not the committing of sin, but the denial of obedience. To
Isaiah and Samuel, we see that the glory of the lord is not in the
trial or hardship that we put into obedience, but the need for his
laws to be kept.
I also enjoy the imagery in the first quote. Peace is like a reach. It
flows, it is not still. It rushes and goes forth. Many times we see
peacefulness as idleness, when Isaiah describes peace as momentous.
The imagery in Samuel's reproof to Saul is strong as well. In this
case, Samuel is using a physical substance in contrast to a mental
response. "To hearken that the fat of rams." Self-mastery and humility
are tools we have to fulfill the word of the lord. We perform his
deeds in the order and desire he has given us, not what we think is
best.
My mind is everywhere today. We had a wild week filled with ups and
downs, but no matter what, I love being a missionary. I thank my God
for this chance I have to work with him. Every experience is worth it.
Elder Hall
1. Elder A and I on exchanges
2. Things that happen when it rains in Texas
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